Tire-carrying rim.



E. HQF'KINSON: TIRE CARRYiNG RIM.

APPLRCATION man ocr. 14. S911 Patemfid am 451917.

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TIRE-CARRYING RIM.

Specification of incense.

Application filed October 14, 1911.

To alt whom may concern:

Beit known that I, Ennns'r-Hornmson, a citizenv of the United States of America, residing at East Orange, New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Tire-Carry iug Rim, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to tire-carrying rims, by which is meant a. rim designed to carr 1 a pneumatic tire for a vehicle wheel in in ated condition while disassociated from the wheel. In other words, it is what is known in the art as a demountable rim.

The object of the invention is to provide a rim of the kind described, which shall be and safe, and easy to assemble and take apart.

In the drawings, I have illustrated a con struction embodying my invention in which Figure 1 is an arbitrary view, partly in crosssection and partly in perspective.

Fig. 2 is a view' similar to Fig. 1, but

, showing a modification.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several views of the drawings. eferring to the drawings in detail, and, particularly to Fig. 1, the rim is circumferontially divided into two members A and A. Each of these members is provided with a plurality of'slots The surface of these slots nearest the central circumferential line of the rim, is inclined, as at a, to engage a corespondingly undercut flange on the coupling fiieces, to be hereinafter described.

Each of the coupling pieces, referred to, consists of a base portion B, provided with two undercut flanges 71. The location of the slots in the rim members, and the width of the coupling pieces are preferably such that they will be covered by the edge of the tire shoe, when the rim is associated with its tire. y

I prefer to connect all the coupling pieces by a spring metal band which I have shown in the drawings as being narrow, and located only under one of the rim members, as A. This metal band will be of quite light metal, -so as to be easy of manipulation, and may be endless or may simply consist of a strip of metal made of such a length that when it is placed in position with the series of coupling pieces, its ends will abut against some suitable projection or against each other.

In Fig. 2, I have shown a modification, in which the same principle is embodied. In

. and are well known in Letters Patent. Patented Sept. at, 118 17..

Serial No. 654,587.

this modification, the rim is circumferentially divided into two rim members D and D. The rim members are provided with slots similar to the construction illustrated in Fig. 1, and the coupling pieces E are provided with undercut flanges c engaging slots in the rim members. This form of coupling piece is also provided with wedging portions, having inclined surfaces 6, contacting with similarly shaped inclines on" the folly band F. Any form of device for securing the tire-- carrying rim to the telly band may be employed. those shown in the drawings being the usual bolt and nut construction, which, as they do not form a part of this invention,

the art, are not necessary of detailed description. This construction afl'ords a simple and cheap construction for securing a rim to the felly band, as the coupling piece carrying the wedging surface may be drawn in long lengths and then cut to proper sectional length, and curred to the desired are or may be cast or drop-forged.

It will be understood that this modification is intended for use as a universal rim, that is, a rim. which may be used either with a-elencher hook tire, or, a tire having straight sides at its edges, the usual reversible tire flanges being used for this purpose. and are designated in the drawings by the letter G.

The method of operation is as follows Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the con pling pieces connected to the metal band C are placed in position engaging the rim member A". The tire is then placed in posit-ion on said rim member A. The rim member A is then engaged with the other clencher hook of the tire and moved toward the other rim n'iember. This will bring its inner edge in contact with the dis engaged flanges of the coupling pieces, which will be tilted toward the center of the rim. yet kept in contact with the inner surface of the rim member until the slots come to register with the disengaged flanges on the coupling pieces, which will take place when the rim member A is substantially in contact with the rim member A, when the flanges of the coupling. pieces under the spring action of the metal band will snap into engagement with the slots.

A central circumferential space a is provided between the rim members, so as to make it possible for the undercut flanges of to lock with the undercut flanges of the conpling pieces. This locking engagement will be maintained and enhanced as the tire is inflated. So long as the internal pressure is maintained in the tire, it is impossible for the parts to become disassociated. The inner tube of an automobile tire is provided with a valve stem, having a spreader, which impinges against the inner surfaces of the edges of the tire shoe and acts as a wedge to force the edges of the tire shoe apart, me-

chanically holding them in position against the flanges, the spreader exerting its wedging action by being drawn down by a suitable screw on the valve stem, acting on the under surface of the rim. This spreader will keep the rim members apart, independent of inflation, and will prevent the rim members moving during the period the rim may be in use on a wheel after puncture and before the automobile comes to rest. It may be necessary to have mechanical wedges at other points of the rim, but as these wedges, if necessary at all, constitute a minor detail, it is not deemed necessary to make further description here. The operation above described is substantially the same with regard to the construction in Fig. 2, except that no metal band is here shown.. This may .or

' may not be employed and may vary in size is king. Qf

and location from that shown in the drawmade in the details and construction illustrated, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed as new is: 1 1. A tire-carrying rim, divided longitudi nally into two similar members having marginal tire retaining portions, whose combined interior width when forced together is less than th normal outside width of the corresponding fastening portions of a tire when. inflated thereon and said members are separated, and a plurality of integral coilpling pieces having undercut ends adapted to engage corresponding edges formed on the interior of said rim members to hold said members normally spaced apart against latginal tire retaining course, other variations may be eral pressure of the tire when inflated and capable of removal only when the rim members are moved toward each other.

2. A tire-carrying rim divided longitudinally into two similar members having marportions, each of which is provided with a plurality of slots, the combined interior width of said members when forced together being less than the normal outside width of the corresponding fastening portions of a tire when inflated thereon and said members are separated, and a plurality of integral coupling pieces having undercut ends adapted to engage the edges of opposed slots in the rim members to hold said members normally spaced apart against the lateral pressure of a tire when 4. In combination with a longitudinally I divided tire rim having coupling-engaging means on the inner sides of the sections thereof, inextensible hooked coupling members adapted to engage said means when said sections are-normally separated by the inflation of a tire,- and .a resilient band connecting said coupling members and adapted to hold the same temporarily in position prior to the inflation of the tire.

5. Imf'bombination' with a longitudinally dividedtire'rim having slots in" the cylindrical portions thereof, inextensible hooked coupling members adapted to engage the in ner edges ofsaid'slots when said sections are normally separated by; the inflation of a tire, and a"jresili ent .band connectin said couplingmemb'ers andada d to ho dthe same temporarily in position prior'to the inflation ofthe, tire.

In witness whereof, I m" signature of, two witnesses.-

in the presence ERNEST HOPKINSON.

\Vitnesses ANNA B RGER,

B; V. MOHAN. 

